What explains the well-being benefits of physical activity? A mixed-methods analysis of the roles of participation frequency and social identification

Authors: Inoue, Y., Lock, D., Sato, M., Aizawa, K., Mikura, A., Kohno, N. and Ogasawara, E.

Journal: Social Science and Medicine

Volume: 340

eISSN: 1873-5347

ISSN: 0277-9536

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116454

Abstract:

Objective: Physical activity in a social setting is said to be associated with well-being because it provides opportunities for participants to form social relationships. However, there are inconsistent findings regarding the well-being benefits of participating in physical activity with others. To address this inconclusive evidence, we draw on the social identity approach to health and well-being to examine whether (a) the frequency of physical activity participation in a social setting and (b) the degree of social identification associated with it, have different relationships with participants’ well-being. Methods: We implemented a two-phase, mixed-methods design with members of women's only fitness clubs in Japan. In Study 1, we collected survey responses about social identification, life satisfaction, and eudaimonic well-being from 1118 members. The survey data were combined with respondents' objective participation data from a membership database. In Study 2, we interviewed a sample of club members to understand how the nature of social relationships differed depending on the degree of their social identification. Results: Study 1 found that social identification with a fitness club, but not the frequency of attending the club for physical activity, was positively associated with members’ well-being. Study 2 revealed that members with high social identification experienced more affective relationships with other members than those with medium or low identification. Conclusions: Our research provides quantitative and qualitative evidence supporting the association between social identification and the well-being benefits of physical activity in a social setting. It confirms the predictions of the social identity approach to health and well-being, demonstrating that people enjoy well-being benefits from physical activity participation when it is internalized as a meaningful definition of self.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/39191/

Source: Scopus

What explains the well-being benefits of physical activity? A mixed-methods analysis of the roles of participation frequency and social identification.

Authors: Inoue, Y., Lock, D., Sato, M., Aizawa, K., Mikura, A., Kohno, N. and Ogasawara, E.

Journal: Soc Sci Med

Volume: 340

Pages: 116454

eISSN: 1873-5347

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116454

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Physical activity in a social setting is said to be associated with well-being because it provides opportunities for participants to form social relationships. However, there are inconsistent findings regarding the well-being benefits of participating in physical activity with others. To address this inconclusive evidence, we draw on the social identity approach to health and well-being to examine whether (a) the frequency of physical activity participation in a social setting and (b) the degree of social identification associated with it, have different relationships with participants' well-being. METHODS: We implemented a two-phase, mixed-methods design with members of women's only fitness clubs in Japan. In Study 1, we collected survey responses about social identification, life satisfaction, and eudaimonic well-being from 1118 members. The survey data were combined with respondents' objective participation data from a membership database. In Study 2, we interviewed a sample of club members to understand how the nature of social relationships differed depending on the degree of their social identification. RESULTS: Study 1 found that social identification with a fitness club, but not the frequency of attending the club for physical activity, was positively associated with members' well-being. Study 2 revealed that members with high social identification experienced more affective relationships with other members than those with medium or low identification. CONCLUSIONS: Our research provides quantitative and qualitative evidence supporting the association between social identification and the well-being benefits of physical activity in a social setting. It confirms the predictions of the social identity approach to health and well-being, demonstrating that people enjoy well-being benefits from physical activity participation when it is internalized as a meaningful definition of self.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/39191/

Source: PubMed

What explains the well-being benefits of physical activity? A mixed-methods analysis of the roles of participation frequency and social identification

Authors: Inoue, Y., Lock, D., Sato, M., Aizawa, K., Mikura, A., Kohno, N. and Ogasawara, E.

Journal: Social Science and Medicine

Publisher: Elsevier

ISSN: 0277-9536

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/39191/

Source: Manual

What explains the well-being benefits of physical activity? A mixed-methods analysis of the roles of participation frequency and social identification.

Authors: Inoue, Y., Lock, D., Sato, M., Aizawa, K., Mikura, A., Kohno, N. and Ogasawara, E.

Journal: Social science & medicine (1982)

Volume: 340

Pages: 116454

eISSN: 1873-5347

ISSN: 0277-9536

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116454

Abstract:

Objective

Physical activity in a social setting is said to be associated with well-being because it provides opportunities for participants to form social relationships. However, there are inconsistent findings regarding the well-being benefits of participating in physical activity with others. To address this inconclusive evidence, we draw on the social identity approach to health and well-being to examine whether (a) the frequency of physical activity participation in a social setting and (b) the degree of social identification associated with it, have different relationships with participants' well-being.

Methods

We implemented a two-phase, mixed-methods design with members of women's only fitness clubs in Japan. In Study 1, we collected survey responses about social identification, life satisfaction, and eudaimonic well-being from 1118 members. The survey data were combined with respondents' objective participation data from a membership database. In Study 2, we interviewed a sample of club members to understand how the nature of social relationships differed depending on the degree of their social identification.

Results

Study 1 found that social identification with a fitness club, but not the frequency of attending the club for physical activity, was positively associated with members' well-being. Study 2 revealed that members with high social identification experienced more affective relationships with other members than those with medium or low identification.

Conclusions

Our research provides quantitative and qualitative evidence supporting the association between social identification and the well-being benefits of physical activity in a social setting. It confirms the predictions of the social identity approach to health and well-being, demonstrating that people enjoy well-being benefits from physical activity participation when it is internalized as a meaningful definition of self.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/39191/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

What explains the well-being benefits of physical activity? A mixed-methods analysis of the roles of participation frequency and social identification

Authors: Inoue, Y., Lock, D., Sato, M., Aizawa, K., Mikura, A., Kohno, N. and Ogasawara, E.

Journal: Social Science and Medicine

Volume: 340

Publisher: Elsevier

ISSN: 0277-9536

Abstract:

Objective Physical activity in a social setting is said to be associated with well-being because it provides opportunities for participants to form social relationships. However, there are inconsistent findings regarding the well-being benefits of participating in physical activity with others. To address this inconclusive evidence, we draw on the social identity approach to health and well-being to examine whether (a) the frequency of physical activity participation in a social setting and (b) the degree of social identification associated with it, have different relationships with participants’ well-being.

Methods We implemented a two-phase, mixed-methods design with members of women's only fitness clubs in Japan. In Study 1, we collected survey responses about social identification, life satisfaction, and eudaimonic well-being from 1118 members. The survey data were combined with respondents' objective participation data from a membership database. In Study 2, we interviewed a sample of club members to understand how the nature of social relationships differed depending on the degree of their social identification.

Results Study 1 found that social identification with a fitness club, but not the frequency of attending the club for physical activity, was positively associated with members’ well-being. Study 2 revealed that members with high social identification experienced more affective relationships with other members than those with medium or low identification.

Conclusions Our research provides quantitative and qualitative evidence supporting the association between social identification and the well-being benefits of physical activity in a social setting. It confirms the predictions of the social identity approach to health and well-being, demonstrating that people enjoy well-being benefits from physical activity participation when it is internalized as a meaningful definition of self.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/39191/

Source: BURO EPrints